Tag Archives: blog

New Home, New Home Improvement Projects!

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My husband Sam and I just purchased our very first home in Easton, PA! It’s an adorable 100+ year old, 3 bedroom house with an office and a really cute view of the city of Easton. We’ve been here for about two months now and we’re finally starting to make it our own. I think we’re moving a little fast on some of the projects, or at least my bank account is telling me to slow down, but we’re moving ahead full force! It’s so much fun to take a room, or a house for that matter, that feels like someone else’s and make it into a place that feels 100% and completely your own. It’s empowering and scary and expensive, all mixed together!

There wasn’t too much that NEEDED to be done in the house so our projects have been fairly small. But if you consider how un-handy both my husband and I actually are, it might as well have been extremely gigantic tasks. I thought since I haven’t blogged in FOREVER, that I’d start sharing some of the projects and where we got the inspiration and the costs and what not.

The best part about owning a home is just that. OWNING your own home. Also, my puggle Melo really enjoys the backyard. When we were living in our one bedroom apartment, Melo would take his bones and try to burying them in the corners of the couch cushions and we used to be so sad. Thinking that he probably wishes he had a backyard to bury his bones in. Luckily, he’s out in the backyard everyday digging up and burying his bones and it makes us so happy! He also enjoys some #frontporchchilling with us too 🙂

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Follow me on instagram for a sneak peak of some of the projects!

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I haven’t been posting a lot lately and I apologize but I wanted to let you guys know what I’ve been up to. I just started a new blog!!! It’s a photography blog and I know, I know, you can’t throw a toothpick into a crowd without hitting someone with a photography blog. I’m not claiming to be any good but I do enjoy photography and pictures and I wanted a place online where I can start to compile a photo album of sorts for family, friends, and strangers to look at and give me some tips and tricks. I also wanted to keep track of my progress as I’m just beginning to learn all the settings and what they mean and all that “jazz“.

I’m going to find a way to make it more accessible from this blog but for now you can just head over to http://coordinatedkatephotography.wordpress.com/ (WOOO! That’s a long link) so check it out and pass along the link to some of your photography friends. I know you have some!

I hope everyone has an awesome Friday and a lovely weekend!

Happy Earth Day!

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I had no idea today was Earth Day until I walked into Target and was greeted by an elderly woman passing out small, free reusable shopping bags filled with coupons. Did anyone else visit Target today?! According to the sweet, little old lady, I was helping them celebrate Earth Day by simply taking one of the bags.

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Anyways, I never use these bags and I always feel bad about it when at the end of my shopping trip the cashier politely asks, “do you have any shopping bags with you?” and I say, “no” and it seems that she crinkles her nose and replies, “oh” with a disgusted tone and then goes ahead and presses a few buttons on the register. The buttons are probably labeled ASSHOLE and ENVIRONMENT KILLER, I don’t know. But today, I went in and got a few tank tops and got to the register and the lady asked if I had any bags and I think I was so excited that I screamed “YES!” with a huge smile on my face. She looked at me the way people looked at Will Ferrell in Elf when he told James Caan that he was his son. I’m rambling again. Not only was the small bag free but it also saved my 5 cents! Pretty cool.

Well, happy Earth Day everyone!

How to blow a budget!

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Remember in my vlog I mentioned that I wasn’t going to be purchasing anything I don’t need in the month of April just so I could see how much money I could save? Oopsies!

I ended up purchasing a MacBook Pro last week and I’m absolutely loving it! It was definitely a big purchase but the opportunity presented itself and I just went for it. I have a feeling I’ll be using this laptop for a very long time. This is my first Mac and although it has and probably will take me awhile to get used to it and learn all the shortcuts and stuff, I don’t see myself getting sick of this any time soon. If you have a MacBook Pro, let me know what kinda cool stuff you can do with it and what neat accessories you have.

Oh and by the way, I’ve been meaning to tell you guys to follow me on Instagram if you have it! My username is _dweeb. Yes, underscore dweeb. I don’t post too often or anything of any value but it’s a great way to stay connected!

Happy Tuesday!

Convenient Uses for Mason Jars

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I love mason jars! I think everyone on Pinterest loves mason jars as well. Recently I was browsing through some posts and came across Food Paradise’s blog and she was painting the inside of jars. I loved the look and normally I wouldn’t even attempt to try it but I thought I’d give it a shot because she made it look so easy.

I got the mason jars at Christmas Tree Shop for $.89/each and the acrylic paint was on sale at AC Moore 2 for $1 so I got a bunch of different colors. One of these small 2 ounce bottles of paint wold be enough for two mason jars.  Then all you have to do is put some paint in the jar add a couple drops of water and then just kind of wiggle it around until all the sides are completely covered.

Once you do that, you want to turn it upside down and let the excess paint drip out. I left mine upside down for about 20 minutes then sat it up right for 15 minutes or so then flipped upside down again for another 20 minutes. After that I just set it up and let it dry overnight.

After letting them dry overnight I sprayed them the next day with a clear cote matte finish acrylic sealer.

I got this at AC Moore also. It was $4.50 but I got it for $2.25 with a coupon. It’s definitely essential to keeping your jars looking nice and protected inside.

Then I put all my q-tips, cotton balls, cotton swabs, and makeup sponges in them and now they live on my bathroom counter!

The colors are great! I really like them. It’s like a little make over for the traditional mason jar. I wanted to use a mason jar for all my makeup brushes but there was too many so I got a small vase and filled the bottom with stones and now that’s on my vanity.

I also use mason jars to store my incense and to hold some pens and pencils.

Mason jars are perfect containers for homemade mod podge!

Mason jars are really cheap and have endless great storage possibilities. Decorating mason jars is also VERY easy and extremely inexpensive. If you’re like me, and not really the type to try a DIY kind of project, you at least need to try painting the inside of a couple mason jars. It’s so fun and gives color to places that may need it!

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Where do you use mason jars? Have any great ideas? Let me know! Leave me a comment or send me an e-mail at kate@coordinatedkate.com